Abstract:
Case A introduces Jotaka Eaddy’s background in civil rights advocacy, political organizing, and technology, highlighting the experiences and relationships that shaped her leadership approach. The case then centers on the summer of 2020, when Eaddy became frustrated by the racist and sexist attacks directed at Black women being considered for Joe Biden’s running mate. Prompted by a challenge from her mentor, Eaddy sent an email to a network of Black women leaders calling for action. What began as a Zoom meeting of roughly ninety women quickly evolved into #WinWithBlackWomen, a rapidly growing national coalition. Students follow the group’s early efforts to change the narrative surrounding Black women in politics, support Kamala Harris’s candidacy, and mobilize voters during the election. The case concludes with Biden and Harris’s victory and asks students to consider how the coalition might transform short-term momentum into lasting influence.
Case B examines how #WinWithBlackWomen evolved after the 2020 election from a campaign-focused coalition into a sustained movement. The group leveraged its growing network to influence the Biden-Harris transition, advocate for Black women’s appointments to leadership roles, support the confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and engage in other policy and advocacy efforts. The case also explores the organizational practices that sustained the coalition, including weekly calls, shared rituals, distributed leadership, and community-building activities. The narrative culminates in the 2024 presidential election, when Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. #WWBW responded by rapidly scaling its organizing efforts, helping inspire hundreds of affinity groups and raising millions of dollars in support of Harris’s candidacy. Although Harris ultimately lost the election, the case concludes by examining how the coalition maintained cohesion, purpose, and momentum despite a significant setback.
Learning Objectives:
This case examines how leaders build power and mobilize collective action during moments of disruption. Through the evolution of #WinWithBlackWomen, students explore how relationships, legitimacy, shared identity, and informal authority create influence beyond traditional institutions. The case also examines how movements emerge, scale, adapt, and sustain engagement, and how race, gender, and lived experience shape leadership and political influence.
